Should America have dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

1 January 2018

America’s use of the atomic bomb to attack the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has long remained on of the most controversial decisions of World War II. In my opinion, I think the atomic bomb Truman dropped was immoral but necessary. Although there were other options he could’ve chosen instead of dropping the bombs, I think it was the best option and crucial to ending World War II.

Truman was right to drop the bombs because it brought a speedy end to World War II, prevented further civilian casualties, and was the least bad option.The most important reason Truman was right to drop the atomic bomb is because it brought a speedy end to World War II. After the bombs were dropped, Japan surrender shortly after. They surrendered before they entered the war.Truman’s alternative was a campaign of blockade and bombardment, which would have killed millions of Japanese, mostly civilians.

Another thing to bear in mind is that while just over 200,000 people were killed in total by the atomic bombs, it is estimated that 300,00-500,000 Japanese people died or disappeared in Soviet captivity. Had the war continued, that number would have been much higher.

The atomic bombs were horrible but using them as the least objectionable choice. A bloody invasion and conventional bombing would have led to a far higher death toll and so the atomic weapons actually saved thousands of American and millions of Japanese lives. The bombs were the best means to bring about unconditional surrender, which is what US leaders wanted.In conclusion, while it wasn’t he most moral or conventional option, dropping the atomic bombs in Japan in World War II was completely necessary. If Truman had not dropped them the war would’ve dragged on longer and hundreds of thousands more people would have been killed. In the long run, the bombs saved more lives.

How to cite this essay

Choose cite format:

Should America have dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?. (2018, Jan 09). Retrieved May 25, 2019, from https://newyorkessays.com/essay-should-america-have-dropped-atomic-bombs-on-hiroshima-and-nagasaki/